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a great little cool sheet

When I was younger, I had a bit of bother with sinus and migraine headaches, I always kept one of these little gel pads around for when I took a really bad one, and found that they came in handy especially in summer, when it was a little more clamy than winter time.

These pads do not have any painkillers added to them so it is safe to use them along with the painkillers of your choice. They are simply a little gel sheet, that doesn't need to be refrigerated and is placed on the forehead to keep it cool and calm down a migraine headache. Also you can use these pads during pregnancy.

The gel in this pad is quite sticky, so it doesn't fall out of place easily and it doesn't leak any water or liquid so it isn't messy at all to use.

I find that when I use these little cold pads that I can cope with my migraines and sleep them off a lot quicker than when I am suffering them without them. They definitely do cool your head down a lot and work and feel refreshing as soon as you put them on.

It says on the packet that these pads last up to 8 hours, I do not think that this is the case, the longest one has ever lasted me was about 6 hours, and then it lost its stickyness and peeled off quite easily.

One thing about these pads that I do not like is that if you poke and prod at them too much, the gel can break away a bit and leave you with blue gel stuck on your forehead, or if you have spots, the gel can stick on them, so you have to be careful when you take them off that there is no blue gel left behind.

These pads can be a little expensive, they cost just over £3 in Tesco for a pack of 4, and once you have used one, you cannot re-use it. However, I think that for very severe headaches, they are y definitely worth splashing out on, as they really do provide quite a bit of relief and keep you cool during your migraine.

Overall I am glad that I bought these cool gel pads, they really work and keep your head cool for a good few hours while you have a migraine, they can leave your head a bit blue sometimes, but only if you poke at them too much so overall I would give these cool pads 4 out of 5 stars.

*also on ciao under lorrainek90

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3/5 relieves pain but at a price.

Price and Availability

I often suffer from really bad migraines, and, as the sun is starting to get brighter the more and more they are starting to come on after a brief break over the winter months. I am on prescription tablets for my migraines and do work to a certain extent but I'm still trying to find what really works for me so I had to look for alternatives to relieve the pain. My Mum first introduced me to Kool n Soothe a couple of years ago, when she bought them home after a supermarket shop. They cost between £3- £3.50 for a box of four and are available in most supermarkets and chemists, they're on offer at the moment in Boots with 20% off which is a nice little saving.

Packaging and Product Information

The Kool n Soothe gel sheets come in a blue box with white text, pretty standard packaging. The sheets promise to "provide immediate cooling relief to the severe discomfort associated with migraine and headaches". As I said before there are four sheets in each pack, these come foil wrapped in sets of two which is to make sure the sheets are kept fresh between uses. The gel sheets are ready to use and don't need to be refrigerated, they just need to be kept in a cupboard away from sunlight. They can be used for up to six hours along with other pain relief medication which is said to give maximum pain relief.

My Experience

I have used Kool n Soothe strips many times over the past couple of years, and have found that the majority of the time they give excellent results. The gel sheets come with a protective clear film on the cold side which is blue, this is easy to peel off, and the outer side is a soft white fabric. When applying the strip to my forehead it is lovely and cool without being freezing cold. The strips aren't heavy but they do have a little bit of weight to them and I couldn't really imagine myself carrying on my daily tasks whilst wearing one of the strips but they're okay if you're laying/ sitting down. The strips do provide effective relief for my headaches, before I had often used a wet flannel and the strips work a lot better, without all the dripping water. The strips are also really good to use for a high temperature and if I've got a cold I find they really soothe me and made me feel a little better. Kool n Soothe strips are also available in a smaller, child's size however it's not that much cheaper and in my opinion the best thing to do would be cut the adult strips in half, and they can be used for children over the age of one.

Overall

Overall, I've found Kool n Soothe strips to be an effective way to relieve headaches and relieve the symptoms of a head cold. They do work better and faster than applying a wet flannel although obviously it is a much more expensive method. Although good for when staying still I always find myself constantly checking the strip to make sure it's not falling off if I'm moving around which means I can't really get on with everything I'd usually be doing. So they do work but at a price.

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Not the most environmentally friendly product, but one that's very useful when you're in pain.

It's not often I get a migraine or even a bad headache these days as I'm on meds to stop this happening, however, when I do, I like to have a variety of things at hand to use to alleviate the symptoms as quickly as possible, and kool n soothe patches are one of those things.

~*~Packaging~*~What you pick up off the shelf in the chemist or supermarket is a box. On the outside it shows someone using the product, and some information about how to use them and how long they last etc. Inside the box are sachets each one containing a kool n soothe strip which makes it nice and easy to use them just one at a time.

~*~Cost~*~I've seen these as low as £2.00 for a pack of 4 strips, and as high as £4.00. I usually buy mine in Tesco where I pay £3 normally although at the moment they're on special offer at £2 per pack.

~*~What is a kool n soothe strip?~*~Each strip is around maybe 13 centimetres long and 4 centimetres wide, and they are designed to fit across most people's foreheads reasonably well. Sticky on one side, they're filled with a gel substance which is activated when you stick them to your skin, and helps to keep your head cool for up to 6 hours.

They're not the most environmentally friendly of products being made of chemicals that cool down when activated (to be honest I'm not sure if it's air that activates them, or removing the sticky strip, but something does). I doubt that they break down very well once they reach the rubbish pile either.

~*~How to use~*~Using these is very simple indeed, you simply take the strip out, remove the backing tape, and then stick it to your forehead. Once it's stuck there, it stays put quite well, and you can move around, sleep, or whatever without it falling off. It can be adjusted, but is likely to lose a bit of it's sticky in doing so, so it's best to try and get it right the first time and then leave it alone.

~*~Do they work?~*~Well they don't take away headaches as such, but they do certainly have a cooling effect which is rather nice when you have a headache, and certainly helps somewhat. I don't think this is a product I'd want to use instead of pain medication, but if the painkillers haven't totally got rid of the pain, or you need a bit of extra help then they're quite a good thing to have in the house.

~*~Do I recommend them?~*~I'm kind of in two minds about that. Yes, they work, so from that point of view I do recommend them, however like I've said they're not exactly environmentally friendly, and the same effect can be achieved with a cloth stuck in the freezer for a few minutes, so it's possible to be environmentally friendly and still get a cool forehead when you're feeling naff. The thing is, when you're feeling naff, you don't want to faff around putting a cloth in the freezer do you, you also can't sleep with a damp cloth on your head so easily, so that's where these really come in to their own, and why there's definitely a market for them.

I think overall, as long as they're used sparingly I do recommend these yes, but I would suggest that they be saved for the occasions when no-one else is home to help you out with the cloth in the freezer method.

*originally posted on another review site in July last year - prices have been updated and all other information checked to make sure it's still correct*

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Gel sheets which feel lovely on the skin

I don't suffer from headaches or migraines very often but when I do I am a total man about them and usually take to my bed with for the rest of the night. I really do hate having a headache and am not to health conscious to avoid taking medication for them and I just wish that paracetamol were quicker to work.

The last time I had a headache my mum bought me some kool'n'soothe gel patches at the supermarket as she was sick of my complaining. They are basically strips of soft pliable blue gel that are supposed to help relieve the pain from headaches by providing up to 9 hours of cooling relief.

To use the patches you just remove the protective film on the back of them and stick it to your head, it's that simple. The patches function like a cool wet flannel would by giving you cooling relief to your head and hopefully helping to soothe your headache. When you are ready to remove the strip you just simply peel it off again and throw it away. I was pleasantly surprised to see it didn't leave a mark or any sticky residue so ideal to use before leaving the house.

All they do is cool, nothing more nothing less so don't buy these expecting miracles. Personally I'to I'm not sure they helped much with actually relieving my headache but they really did help to soothe it. The cooling sensation is lovely when you are feeling a little under the weather and really does last a long time but I am sceptical it will last the 9 hours stated on the pack as I noticed they were already less cool after a couple of hours.

They cost around £3 for a pack of 4 patches which isn't bad for something that hopefully won't be needed all that often. A slight downside is that the strips are only single use which is a shame as I am sure there must be a way to make them viable for a few uses at a time.

Personally I think a couple of paracetamols will do more to cure your headache than these but I have found myself using them a couple of times since the first time as the cooling sensation is just such a nice feeling and really does help you relax especially as I said earlier if you are feeling a little under the weather. I will definitely continue to use these when I have a bad headache in combination with paracetamols and I will also definitely be using them this winter when I get a cold to help with the burning up sensations.

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4 out of 5 stars

Kobayashi Healthcare Kool 'n' Soothe

For those of us that are unlucky to suffer from repeated headaches then using any little thing that can help is a must. I have been using these Kobayashi kool 'n' soothe strips for quite a while now and I will continue to do so. They aren't a medication as such, they are more of a complimentary relief, but they do work to ease your pain.

These are very easy to use, simply remove one from the packet, peel off the backing paper and then place the gel sheet on your forehead. Apart from looking a little silly you will instantly notice the pleasant cooling sensation, which when you've had a thumping headache for a while feels like a great and very welcome little bit of a relief.

These won't cure your headaches, or at least they don't cure mine, what they do is make me feel more comfortable while the pain medication is kicking in. They do have a mild menthol smell to them, another thing that I personally find a bit soothing.

These cooling gel strips do a rather good job at staying attached to my forehead while cooling and soothing at the same time when you are lying down or when sitting upright, but you can't move around too much or it will slip off. After my headache eases off a tad I tend to remove and place back the gel strip at my whim and they really do remain cooling for hours at end.

The gel strips are quite versatile, you can cut these strips to a smaller size if required, I sometimes tapper the edges of the strips, so that they don't get caught in or on my hair.

I have quite sensitive skin and I have never had a problem when using these strips. They do often leave a residual layer of gel or something like that on your head, but it is clear and hardly noticeable. One wipe and it is gone.

If memory serves me correctly then I think a four pack of these typically costs somewhere around £2.99. They are a bit pricey, but then I find that they help when I have a headache.

I feel that these do make me feel better even if they don't cure the underlying problem. I love having these around the house just in case I need them. I would happily recommend giving these a try if you suffer from headaches. These deserve a well earned four out of five stars, they are pleasant to use and do provide some relief.

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I suffer from awful headaches just before I am due to have my period. Each month 2 or 3 days before the date it is due a headache will start to creep up on me. I usually take paracetamol for headaches but I saw these Kool 'n' Soothe gel sheets on an introductory offer in Boots one day and threw a pack into my basket to put in the medicine cabinet as I thought they sounded like a good alternative to paracetomol.

Kool 'n' Soothe comes in two different types - one is just "Kool 'n' Soothe" which is the pack used for children and the other is called "Mirgraine Kool 'n' Soothe" which is what I purchased. I can't remember how much it was because it was on offer but a pack now costs £2.99.

Kool 'n' Soothe is pack of soft gel sheets (there are 4 in a pack) and they are designed to give relief from headaches and migraines using a cooling system. Kool'n' Soothe is not a drug. What it is is actually a gel strip which is very squidgy and you can feel that when you touch it and when you press it against you head. The gel is also bright blue (a little bit like a toilet blu!) and has a little crisscross pattern over it. It is a natural form of pain relief in that it is believed the cooling action of the gel will soothe away your headache without having to use drugs.

Using them couldn't be anymore simple. All you have to do is peel away the back to the strip which covers the adhesive gel side and then apply the strip to your forehead, gently pressing it into place so that it sticks and it should soon start to work on cooling you down and easing your headache. The strip sticks very well and I have never experienced one falling off before. When it comes to removing the strip it is as simple as 1, 2, 3 and it just peels off leaving no sticky residue on your head.

I always feel the strip working as soon as it has been put into place. I get a lovely cool and tingly sensation as the gel starts to cool my head down and unknot the tension in my head which is causing my headache. These have never got rid of my headaches completely but they make them into just a dull ache which allows me to get on with things.

You can wear the strip for up to 6 hours though I would not advise going out wearing one as they are really very visible and people would think you had lost the plot a little bit, I think!

I do think these are a great way to relieve the banging sensations headaches sometimes cause but I do prefer a paracetamol to get rid of my headache completely. I highly recommend these though if you have children with a headache or you prefer natural methods to get rid of such things. I do think they are a little expesnive when you consider that you can buy a box of paracetamol for less than 20p nowadays. Ultimately I think this will put people off of buying the Kool 'n' Soothe gel sheets.

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A great temporary solution to provide relief for pain.

I'm particularly prone to headaches, migraines especially and have come to rely on these Kool 'n' Soothe sheets since recommended them by a friend. Initially, I admit I was fairly skeptical with regards to their effectiveness, after all they were just sheets.

I guessed there was no harm in trying them out, and so picked up a pack from boots for £2.99 which contained 4 sheets. Their range also includes kool 'n' soothe fever which is available in Boots for the same price. The only difference between the two products is the size of the gel sheets, the migraine sheets are designed especially for adults and the fever sheets are significantly smaller and so ideal for children.

Barely three days later, a throbbing headache struck, thankfully though out of paracetamol I realized I had recently bought some kool 'n' soothes. Following the directions on the pack I tore open one of 4 sachets and removed the Kool 'n' Soothe Migraine soft gel sheet. Taking off the translucent film on the back of the sheet I placed the sheet on my forehead, but the product can be applied on the back of your neck also. (sheets can be cut down to size with scissors if need be.)

So how does this product work? Well the gel sheets are supposed to contain a large amount of water which works in close partnership with your bodies natural cooling system to help to soothe the pain. As the surface temperature of the skin rises, through either a migraine or fever, the heat of the skin causes the evaporation of the water held within the Kool 'n' Soothe gel sheet - this creates a cooling sensation on the skin, and soothing relief.

The convenient kool 'n' soothe stays secured in place with thanks to its adhesive backing which also leaves no residue on the skin. The product is fragrance free, non-medicinal and keeps cooling for up to 8 hours of cooling relief, with no need for refrigeration. It's easy to use, safe to use with other medication and is ready to use straight from the box.

Within minutes of applying the product to my forehead, the cooling sensation began to work its magic, and though my headache was completely lifted soon after I continued to leave it on if to soothe me to sleep. After one use I was sold, the Kool 'n' soothe sheets are cheap, convenient, effective and non-medicinal - I'm sick to death of living of paracetamol and aspirin. So certainly recommended for the entire family!

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A good hand at getting rid of headaches

I suffer from migraines and tension headaches from time to time, and because I am on a bit of pain medication for other problems, I sometimes also get medicinal over use headache, so taking any more pain relief is not going to be the best idea really. I was told about Kool 'N' Soothe sheets by my aunt, who also gets bad migraines and I thought anything that may help would be good, so I popped into Boots and grabbed myself a box.

The Kool 'N' Soothe sheets are basically just sheets of gel that a protected by a clear plastic sheet. This sheet easily peels off when you wish to use the Kool 'N' Soothe. They are squishy and have a scale like pattern in the gel. The basic idea of them is that you pop one onto your forehead when you have a headache, and the cooling action of the gel will soothe away your headache naturally, without the need for pills or medications.

I personally thought it might not be true, as it seemed too easy to be true, but thought I would give it a go anyway, as I hated having headaches and it could not hurt to try it right? As soon as I felt a headache coming on, I peeled a sheet ready to go, and popped it on my forehead whilst having a lie down on the sofa. Almost instantly I could feel the cooling action of the gel on my skin, and it was not long before the headache actually started to relax and hurt less! I was quite impressed, although the headache did not disappear completley, it was calmed down enough for me to get on with things.

I have now used these a few times, and each time they have truly made a difference in the pain, never has it actually gone completley because of the Kool 'N' Soothe sheets, but it has definatley helped significantly. I would properly recommend these to anyone who gets headaches who can not or will not take pain killers, as this is a great, natural way to relieve your pain and although it will cost you more than pain killers do, it is worth it! I believe there was 4 sheets in the box I bought, I am not sure if you can buy bigger boxes, but a box of these is a good thing to have in your medicine cupboard.

I think I paid about £3.50 for my box of Kool 'N' Soothe sheets, but prices do vary depending on where you buy them. They are available in Boots, Superdrug, Pharmacies and in some of the leading supermarkets. They really are worth using, and I hope they are of as much use as they were to me. I have given these 4 out of 5 stars as they didn't take the pain away totally, but they did do a damn good job!

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I get headaches quite regularly - not too surprising as a busy mum . I tend to dislike taking tablets as I have a hard time swallowing them, so I tend to use these Kool N Soothe gel sheets, as they eliminate the need for me taking tablets .

They are very simple to use - simply peel away the backing and press gently across your forehead, where the gel sticks to your head. You'lll immediately feel a cooling sensation, and after a few minutes of use I can feel the tension melting away . These work for six hours, and they stick well, so they are ideal for use if I'm in the house - I'd never wear one of these while out and about, as that would look silly .

These are also easy to remove, leaving no stickiness behind .

The one downside of these is that they are rather expensive, with a box of four costing around £3, much more expensive than tablet form painkillers. However, I really feel that these work for me much better than tablets do, and I prefer to use these, unless I have to leave the house .

4 stars, one off for them being expensive .

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A great cooling gel pad product

Kool 'n' Soothe is such a fantastic idea for those times when either children or adults are suffering from headaches or fevers and just ned a bit of a helping hand. I always keep a box of these handy just in case of need and think they are a very useful thing indeed.

The idea of the Kool 'n' Soothe product is that its a cooling gel strip that can be placed on the forehead to reduce heat, headaches and tension. The gel pads are self cooling and don't need any refrigeration, making them very good for taking away on holidays etc. After all its always good to be prepared in case of illness, too much exposure to the sun, or even a naughty hangover/ headache, due to you sampling too many of the local cocktails!

*********************************************************The pads are similar in effect to the much used wet flannel on forehead technique, but the gel pads are self sticking, so do not fall off or need re applying to the skin. They can kool n Soothe a fevered brow for up to 8 hours, but can become a little warm after a few hours usage. If that happens I take the cooling strip off, run it under a very cold tap for a few seconds and then re-apply. This usually keeps the pad going strong for many hours.

A great thing about these is the fact that the cooling pads are a 100% non medicinal product. This means that they that can be used along with with other medication such as paracetamol or aspirin products.

**********************************************************Children can still have the recommended dose of infant painkiller suspensions like Calpol whilst using the gel pads. I do find that even the mere hint of one of the cooling strips re-assures a child into feeling cooler and more relaxed. A relaxed child will more easily be cooled down and so I feel these pads are great for situations where a child is fretting or stressed making over heating worse.

There are now 2 different variations of the Kool n Soothe pads, one for adults and one for children. You can choose from Kool n Soothe Migraine, which are more suitable for adult heads as they are larger strips that provide a more consistant cooling effect. Handy for hangovers, headaches and migraines.

**********************************************************Kool n Soothe Fever , are the recommended product to use for children, as described above. They are smaller sized and self sticking, giving a cooling sensation for up to 8 hours.

The gel pads contain up to 70% water content and work well when applied to the skin. This is because as the temperature of the skins surface rises, the heat evaporates water that is within the Kool n Soothe gel pad. This reaction creates the amazing cooling sensation on your skin, instantly giving a helping hand where needed.

*********************************************************The gel pads come in a small box and within that there are pouches containing the pads. You get 2 pouches in each pack and each of the pouches contains 2 cooling gel pads. Once you have removed a gel pad from the pouch for use, be sure to close the pack well, so the the remaining cooling pad inside is kept moist and does not dry out before its needed. The pouches are foil backed inside to help prolong the life of the gel pads before use.

To apply the cooling pad, just remove the backing paper and place the pad on the forehead of the child or adult who needs assistance. If the gel pad is too large for a child, it can be cut to size with a pair of sharp scissors and the remaining piece can be saved for another time if its large enough.

*********************************************************As with all cases of fever and headache the situation should be monitored closely. If at any time your childs temperature registers at 39c or over, or the child develops any unusual symptoms or rashes, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible. Very young children should not be left alone with the cooling pads as they can present a choking hazard.

Price wise expect to pay around £3 for a pack containing 4 of the Kool n Soothe gel pads, but as ever look around for reduced prices and offers when you can. The adult product is usually a little more expensive, but adults may find that the childrens version works almost as well for them.

Over all I feel that the cooling pads are a really good idea that work very well. They are 100% a 5 star product and very handy to keep in case of need.

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Safe and easy way to help reduce a temperature

I have bought these on a few occasions - generally when reduced or on offer as I think they are quite pricey at around £3 for a box of four strips that are single use. I prefer not to use medication unless absolutely necessary, I prefer to use natural remedies and just ride it out. I also prefer not to give medication to either of my children unless I have to. So these are perfect as they contain no medicine. They are widely available in most supermarkets and chemists.

At the weekend I had a sore throat and a bad head with a slight temperature, feeling run down and not having the time to sit down and rest with my 16 month old son always on the go it is not an option. Saturday night I was sitting watching the T.V whilst my head was swimming round I then remembered that we had some Kool 'n' soothe sheets in first aid kit. I decided to stick one to my forehead as I knew it wouldn't be long before I would need to get up again so I didn't want to keep putting a flannel back onto my head. After sticking it onto my head I felt a cooling sensation that provided light relief from my poor head, I was sat reclined in my chair drinking my hot chocolate and some time later I heard 'plop' and looked down to see the Kool 'n' Soothe sheet in my drink, I was not amused as I was enjoying drinking the last of my hot chocolate and didn't have any more hot chocolate or Kool 'n' Soothe sheets, so I wasn't overly impressed he-he.

In the past when I have used these they have manage to stay in place for a good amount of time and they should stay in place for 6 hours as that is how long they will work for.

4 gel sheets are provided in each box, each one is single use; they come in a foil pouch to prevent them from drying. They can be used for children from the age of one. They are ready to use straight from the box, the gel sheet is white on the outer part and inside is blue gel with a thin clear film that easily peels off, once you apply it to your forehead you can immediately feel a cooling sensation it is fairly comfortable to wear and isn't heavy. You can continue with your daily tasks without having to worry about it too much. The gel strip provides instant relief for headaches and migraines and will help to reduce a temperature. They are completely safe to use with children and contain no harmful ingredients or medicine, they are a good natural way to soothe a bad head and you can use them with medication if you need to. The sheets are just the right size to fit comfortably on your forehead you can actually cut the sheet if required so if you are using it for a child you could possibly cut it in half or just trim it to fit the child's head.

They are very easy to use and leave no sticky residue behind once removed and they easily peel off. They feel soft to the touch and are an ideal way to treat a child with a temperature/fever. They will provide a cooling sensation that should help a young child feel relaxed and will work in the same way that a plaster does. These are a great idea for young children instead of using a flannel which will need to be placed back on to the forehead several times with fidgety children. I have not had the need to use these on my 16 month old son and I can imagine he would be pulling at it through curiosity although it would be handy to use on him whilst he is sleeping, of course it is important to use these under supervision. I have used these on my daughter when she has been feeling unwell and they seem to work as children like these kinds of things and medication is always hard to administer with children which I avoid using whenever possible.

I have always used a wet flannel in the past and still do at times, but these are a much easier and more convenient way to get relief from a bad head or fever. Unlike a flannel that dries out these last for six hours and stay in place - usually. I have only had one fall off and have not had any problem with them in the past. I will certainly buy them again but will keep an eye out for them when they are on offer because I think they are quite pricey.

These are not essential, but are handy for toddlers as they are safe and convenient and they will feel happy to use them, as they will have the same *magic* effect that a plaster does.

For more information: www.kobayashihealthcare.com

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A wonderful product!

My son has Aspergers Syndrome and takes everthing literally, so, on knowing that "drugs are bad" and "don't ever take drugs", this was translated literally and he won't even ever take a paracetamol for a headache because paracetomol is a drug! Yes, this is great, and hopefully means that he will never take any kind of illegal drug, but it poses a problem when he has a headache! And when he used to go to school, before we took him out to home-educate him, he used to get a LOT of headaches! Stress headaches! So off I went to look for a headache cure which didn't involve any kind of tablet-taking, and I stumbled on these Kool n Soothe head patches.They are packaged in a box which has two paper packets each containing two of the cooling sheets. The top has to be torn off and then if you only need the one sheet, then you can roll down the paper packet top until you next need the other one. The patches are blue and are like strips of cold jelly which look sticky (well they are sticky in as much as they stick to your child's head!) but when you touch them you get the feeling your fingers will be sticky, yet they're not! They have a protective plastic sheet on which just peels away then you can stick the sheet to your child's forehead.They offer immediate cooling relief from a headache and do not have to be kept in the fridge, they are just very cold anyway. The good thing about them is that you can use painkillers as well ( if you have a child who will take them, of course!!) as they are not a medication and do not interact with any medicines.It says on the box that each patch can give up to 8 hours relief - I think this is a bit optimistic of their judgement as if your child has a bad fever they are unlikely to cool them down for much more than an hour or so. But for just a headache when the child isn't actually burning up, they do last for about four hours as a rough estimate.I used to buy these in bulk when my son was at school, and he always said they helped a lot. They cost around £2.50 for the four sheets, which is quite expensive if you have to change them a lot, but I think they are worth the money- even better when they are on special offer!When my son hurt his ankle the other day we put a patch on that and it helped his ankle too, so these are very versatile! And they make kids feel better!!

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useful to have in the first aid box

WHAT ARE THEY?===============Kool 'n' soothe are gel sheets designed to provide cooling relief on your forehead during a headache or migraine. They can be used for children and adults and contain no medicine. The strips do not need to be kept in a fridge or cooled down in anyway so they are ready to use as soon as a headache or temperature strikes.

HOW DO THEY DO IT?==================The gel in the cool and soothe strip contains mainly water which evapourates from the hot temperate of the skin which causes a cooling effect on the skin underneath the strip.

WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?=======================Each individual strip is approximately 4 and a half inches long and 2 and a half inched wide. The strips consist of a rectangular piece of soft white material which has a large rectangular patch of blue coloured sticky gel in the middle. The gel is the part of the strip that does the cooling and the white material bit is sticky on the side of the gel so that it can be easily stuck to your head. I would not recommend walking round with one of these on your head though as my dad thought i had a panty liner stuck to my head (yes it does actually look like that!)

HOW DO YOU USE THEM?======================These are very simple to use as you just open the box, tear open the top of the packet, peel off the clear backing strip from the gel side and place it where you want to be cooled (not on a hairy area as it wont stick!!) The strip easily sticks as both the gel and sheet are sticky but they do not leave a sticky residue when removed and do not cause any pain which is always a good thing! The box says that the strips will stay in place for 6 hours but i havent kept one on that long so i dont know whether they do. The gel on the strips is soft and squidgy so are quite comfortable to have on your head. The strips can also be cut to a smaller size if required. Each sheet should only be used once (up to 6 hours). It is also important to remember to fold over the top of the packet so that the other strip doesnt dry out.

WHAT DO THEY FEEL LIKE?=======================When i first place the strip on my head it feels immediately quite cool which is nice. After a few minutes the gel has a strange feeling of coldness but it feels....artificial! (thats the best way i can try and descrbe it!) To me this felt a bit annoying as my head was feeling slightly odd and the strip didnt seem to have the same effect as a cold flannel would have had. The strip itself was perfectly comfortable but it was the sensation that felt a bit odd.

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THEY?========================I found that the initial cooling feeling provided quite nice relief but after that i didnt really feel anymore benefit from the it.. The strips were more effective with normal headaches but didnt help at all with my migraines. I think that the strips would be most useful in young infants who had a temperature to keep them comfortable.

WHAT DO THEY COME IN?======================Inside the box there are two packets, each packet has two strips in, so there are four strips per box. The box costs £2.99 in Boots and a similar price in tesco. Therefore each strip costs around 50p so it is not something you would want to use on a daily basis!!

SO....WOULD I RECOMMEND THEM??==============================The cool 'n' soothe strips are convenient as they need no prior cooling and are easy to carry in a bag. They are also easy and comfortable to use (although slightly embarassing to wear!!). The strips are particularly useful for children who wriggle around and would not be able to hold a cold flannel still on their head for a period of time! and they are also comfy to wear whilst sleeping. I think the cool 'n' soothe strips are a very good idea as a more convenient replacement for a cold flannel or ice pack and do soothe the hot headedness of a headache but i do not think they are much use for intense migraines (although this may just be me!). I myself wasnt to keen on the sensation of the strips but i know other people who find them really useful. The strips are quite expensive considering they can only be used once, although the fact that they last 6 hours is quite good! I think i would definately recommend these for use on children and for anyone with a bog standard headache but i doubt they would give much relief to migraine sufferers!

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

Cooling strips

These soft gel sheets are quite new in my medicine box, such as it is. They were bought on a whim, in case Little Miss ever had some kind of fever, and I was interested to see how they would perform

**What do they do?**

They promise to immediately cool down a child (why not adult?) and because they are ready for immediate use, they are convenient and can be used any time, any place.

The sheets dont need to be put in the fridge because they are designed to be always cool. The idea is that the water from the sheet evaporates when it touches the heat of the skin, and this produces the cooling effect,

They can be used with other medicines

**What are they?**

Inside the box, there are 2 packets with 2 of the kool n soothe strips in each. Because the packets are a thick paper, they are easy to open and dont require scissors- they can be easily torn open. Another plus point is that the instructions are on each packet as well as the box, so its easy to carry individual sheets around, even if you are worried about forgetting how to use them.

Open up an individual packet and inside is one strip about 11cm by 5 cm. The gel substance is clearly visible, because this is the blue bit. Its this bit which is stuck to your head or other body part

**How do I use them?**

The box gives quite clear instructions, showing three illustrations of children with a sheet on different face and head parts. This is, I suppose, to emphasise the versatility of the sheets.

They are quite simple to use take out a sheet, remove the film from the back of the sheet, and put it on the hot part of the skin.

Each strip should be used only once, because if used more often, it will obviously be less effective.

There are the usual warnings, the most obvious being that the product is for external use only (I think thats fairly obvious), and that they should not be subjected to temperatures over 36 C.

**Who are they for?

They are recommended for children over the age of one year, and all of the instructions mention using them on children, but they could just as easily be used on adults- if you want use one, dont be pt off by the references to children!

**Price and Availability**

These can be purchased from most supermarkets and chemists, and appear to be quite widely available- I see them all over the place now!

These cost me about £3 for 4 of the strips, and I imagine they are about the same price now. At 50p a strip, its quite expensive for something a flannel or sponge could do!

**Produced by **

Kobayashi Healthcare,Bucks.

www.kobayashihealthcare.com

**What I thought**

I bought these to combat any temperatures or hot body parts, and have used them a few times.

They are simple to use and have no obvious side effects. The strip peels off easily and they are easy to stick to the forehead or affected part, and they also remove easily which is a hug plus point as anyone who has ever had to remove a plaster from a child will agree. One thing I did notice is that they are quite big and so I tended to cut them. They also fall off easily, although the packet says they can be worn for up to six hours, and to keep them on successfully requires willpower. They are not very good to stick on a child when they go to bed because if they move, then they fall off, and quickly lose their stickiness.

They are nice and cooling when first put on, (I did try one) but I cant vouch for their effectiveness because each time they have been used, Calpol was also administered, and I have a sneaking suspicion that it was the Calpol which reduced the temperature.

Little Miss likes having them on because she truly believes they have magic healing powers, but thats the power of conviction; when she is awake, she will happily hold a sheet to her forehead, and then feel better.

Having had three children, and not used or needed them for the eldest two (I dont think they were invented!), I think they merely take the place of a cool sponge. They are, for children, quite fun to use, and for parents, good to convince a child that they will soon be better.

A good use for them is if you are traveling and a child is fractious or over heating in a car because they do have an instant cooling effect, or if a child had a hot spot of head, such as nettle stings. Otherwise, I for one, am sticking to my tried and tested methods, although I am going to recommend them because they do have their uses, and one of these could be headaches (mild ones) but not migraines as I cant imagine they would be any help to a migraine sufferer.